Reading have told Ipswich Town they can forget about taking Alan Bennett on loan for the foreseeable future.

Ipswich have joined Leeds United in showing an interest in the Republic of Ireland international defender.

But Nicky Hammond, Reading’s director of football, has been quick to deny reports linking Bennett with a move away from Madejski Stadium.

Bennett has yet to make his senior debut since his move from Cork City in January, but Royals have no plans to allow the defender to step down from the Premiership in order to gain some first-team football.

Hammond said: “Alan Bennett is coming back to Reading for the start of the season and at this point in time reports saying otherwise are nonsense. We need to see where he is for ourselves.

“First and foremost we want to have a good look at him in training before we decide about any loan moves.”

Bennett played an integral part in helping Reading’s Reserve side clinch the FA Premier Reserve League, and he will be hoping that his exploits with the Ireland squad in their recent two-game tour in the United States will improve his chances of pushing for a place in Coppell’s side.

Royals have already knocked back an approach from Leeds for Bennett.

And Coppell went on record last week as saying: “We’ll see how things develop. If Alan is not playing we will have to decide whether he is going to develop better in our reserves or by going out on loan to another club.

“We can’t make that decision until things get under way, though, and we can’t plan for that because more often than not things fall down.”

Bennett is behind several players in the queue for a first-team place, most notably Ivar Ingimarsson, who won the Royals’ player of the year accolade.

And Bennett is unlikely to be allowed to go out on loan until first-choice defender Ibrahima Sonko returns from a cruciate ligament injury.

Sonko is unlikely to be ready before September.

That will leave Bennett contesting a place with Michael Duberry, Andre Bikey and Peter Mate for a place alongside Ingimarsson.